New Delhi: In the face of strong BJP demand, the Election Commission today issued a notice to Congress president Sonia Gandhi on her "merchants of death" remarks in relation to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi even as it deferred a decision on his response to its notice.

The full Commission also decided to issue a notice to Congress leader Digvijay Singh for his remarks about "existence of Hindu terrorism in Gujarat".

Commission sources said that both the Congress leaders have been asked to give their reply by Tuesday.

"Modi's reply requires careful examination. Therefore, no decision has been taken by the EC. His reply would be examined by the Commission," the sources said.

In his reply to the EC, Modi said yesterday that Gandhi had referred to him by suggesting that those who are ruling the state are "liars, dishonest people and merchants of fear and death" (Maut-ke-Saudagar). Similarly Singh referred to the statement on "Hindu terrorism."

"No action has been taken against those responsible for these statements by the EC," Modi said in his reply.

Source : PTI